Hanson and Jason both alighted from Joab's car when it was parked at the side of the lane. Joab's house was opposite the Hill family, so it was easier for Joab to convey the brothers whenever they needed a drive to school.
"We will catch up later," Joab said.
"Sure." Hanson smiled and then watched as his friend drove into his family garage. Then, he turned into the house to catch up with Jason.
"Jason, what was that all about?" Hanson asked immediately he was inside the house.
Jason who was already climbing up the stairs stopped in his tracks, he swirled to stare down at his older brother.
"What was what? I don't understand." Jason seemed lost.
"You know what I meant, Jason. Don't play me for a fool." Hanson said, one of his brows rose questioningly.
A young woman, probably in her early thirties came out towards Hanson, she wore a cotton apron on a flowery, pink dress. Her hair was covered in a headscarf. She looked puzzled at the kind of unwelcoming atmosphere between both boys.
"What is it now, Hanson? You have only just returned from school and you are almost all over your brother's neck," the woman said.
"Mum, good afternoon." Hanson sighed, turning to peck his mother on her left cheek.
Jason who had briefly stopped, resumed his way up the staircase, ignoring both his mother and brother.
"Good afternoon, Hanson," she replied as her eyes flirted up the stairs, "What is wrong with Jason? He didn't even say his greetings." She winced.
"He is becoming outrageously rude." Hanson spat out. "He doesn't even know how to talk," Hanson added.
"You know how he is, Hanson. He is your brother, try to understand him." She said, pulling him towards the kitchen.
"For how long will I understand him? After that terrible night in Olive, he keeps to himself like he is some sort of monk and talks rudely whenever he is supposed to be quiet." Hanson complained.
His mother laughed as she removed her hand gloves. "I prepared some cookies. You might love them." She showed him the bowl of cookies that she had removed from the oven.
Hanson took one crispy cookie shaped like a man, he grinned as he looked down at it. He threw one into his mouth and munched delightedly.
"Mum, this is too good." He said to her with eyes closed as he savored the taste of it.
Mrs Hills smiled at him. "I wonder what is troubling your brother." She worried.
"Mum, he should be the least of your worries. I gotta go now, I have practice in the evening." Hanson scooped a handful of cookies before turning away. Suddenly, he turned back to face his mother again.
"Mum, I have someone coming over for Thanksgiving next week Sunday." He told her.
"Oh, that's great. Who is it?" She looked up at him.
He was trying to be careful. "My girlfriend." He answered.
Her eyes lit up, her shocked expression slowly turned to that of surprise then it transformed into a huge smile.
"My, I have thought I would never live to see this day." She exclaimed.
Hanson laughed at that. "You have always asked me about my girlfriend. I want to bring her home. I want you to get to know her." He said.
She beamed a bright smile. "She is always welcome. I would love to see her. Your dad too."
"You will love her, mum." He assured her before he turned away to go up the stairs.
*********
Jason flung his school bag aggressively to his bed, walked over to the window, and pushed the curtains apart. Why had he reacted that way to his brother's girlfriend? Well, she was indeed not classy. He knew instinctively that she was not from a rich background. It was written all over her, her charisma, her composure.....
Who wouldn't detect that? But something about her was making his skin crawl, she looked strangely familiar to him. For that, it disgusted him. Maybe, he was just being silly like his brother had said.
He unbuttoned and took off his shirt and shorts. In seconds, he was clad in his skin. He walked over to his bathroom which was situated in his very room. He pushed the door open and turned on the shower.
He must do something to push the raging emotions that seem to tear him apart. That was why he had switched his mind to something else, something mild, something yet provoking.
Arts.
Arts had been one to ebbed his fears and calm his wrecked nerves. How could he explain to his family that he had been struggling with something for far too long? Strangely, he didn't know what it was.
The waters came down on him, he could hear the soothing voice of Celine Dion's "Let the rain come down and wash away my "tears". But this time, one would have to substitute fears for tears. He began to scrub his hair furiously trying to cut out that very scene that played over and over again.
After he was done, he pushed open the door. Maybe, he should do something else, anything at all. Maybe, he was paranoid. He picked up his drawing pad, retrieved his pencil, sketched a line and two, and an image began to form.
What he drew frightened him, he jerked backward, looking down at it like he wasn't the one who sketched the drawing. What was happening to him?
A knock jerked him back to reality, forcing him to look towards the door. His mother popped her head into his room.
"You alright, Jason?" She asked him.
"Yes." He nodded, watching her intently as she walked in.
A bowl of cookies was in her hands, her eyes darted to and fro, studying his room. Extraordinary artworks were drawn on the walls of his room. At one end, she noticed a new art that caught her eye, the picture of a boy transforming into a creature that she hadn't known existed. She squinted her eyes trying to grasp the meaning of the amazing artwork. The creature had long claws that could pierce deeply into one's skin, his eyes were massive - tearing away into some sort of owl's eyes......
"Mum, is something wrong?" Jason called out to his mum.
"That is....em...a new artwork you've got there." She laughed as she pointed at it closely. "I haven't seen it the last time I was here." She added.
"Mum, I'm busy." He said to her.
"I know," she paused, looking down at what he was drawing. "I brought you some snacks. Your brother left for his usual practice."
"Thanks, Mum. I appreciate the information but I'm not into basketball." He reminded her as he collected the bowl and placed it at the foot of his bed.
She hesitated, hoping that he might say why he was moody. He looked up at her again, wondering why she was still lingering.
"Oh, I'm on my way out." She chuckled when she saw his eyes. "Don't forget, tonight we are going to have a full moon. Your dad will be home to do one of that astrological hypothesis." She laughed as she started walking away.
Jason's head jerked up, his eyes bugled, and his drawing book fell from his hands.